Community engagement

• Solstice brings together a diverse community of festival visitors, artists, employees, partners, and organizations from both within and beyond the industry. We aim to engage our community and invite them to be part of the work and the progress.

• Solstice Impact Report
  Every year, we need to know how we did and how we can improve. We commit to measure and collect data to help us making informed decisions. Through data collection and analysis we track our emissions and waste management efforts, set targets and implement strategies to reduce our ecological footprint. Our first public Solstice Impact Report in 2026 will not just a collection of data, but also a way to share our practices and insights in the areas that are more qualitative in nature.

• Using our channels for good
  To encourage the changes we wish to see, we use our communication channels to raise awareness and engage our community. We also provide learning opportunities for our employees and volunteers, helping to build knowledge, foster engagement, and strengthen our collective capacity to create lasting impact.

Managing resources

• We are mindful of what we consume and intentional in how we use resources. Over the past years, with the guidance from experimental design studio Caracara Collective and supported by an initiative by the city of Oulu, “The Most Sustainable European Capital of Culture” , Solstice has developed and implemented a circular economy approach across the festival.

• Circular Economy Model
  The majority of structures within the festival area are either rented or constructed from recycled and repurposed materials, reducing the need for new resources. When new purchases are necessary, longevity and reusability are key considerations, ensuring that materials and products can serve the festival for many years to come.

• Rethinking waste
  A circular approach to waste management enables us to dig deep into how we can systematically reduce our environmental footprint. Waste separation is a top priority at our festival. By manually sorting waste into wood, plastics, PLA bioplastics, paper and cartons, metals, biowaste, hazardous waste, bagasse, and deposit cans, we significantly reduce the amount of mixed waste that cannot be recycled or recovered.

  Sorting takes place on-site with the support of our volunteers. At our sorting station, every waste bag is opened, reviewed, and separated to ensure that materials leaving the site are properly categorized. This hands-on approach increases our recycling rate, improves material recovery, and minimizes residual waste.

• Sustainable food choices
  At Solstice, we largely favor vegan and vegetarian food options. If we offer meat or fish, we always make sure it's locally sourced. Our bars and food stalls are required to provide biodegradable packaging, cups and offer a deposit system for cans and bottles.

• Energy & water consumption
  Since 2008, Ruka Resort has operated entirely on electricity generated from renewable energy sources. As a result, all energy used for Solstice Festival – from stage audios and lighting to staff and guest services – is spruced from clean energy.

  Due to a remote setting on top of the fell, Solstice operates without running water and all the water is transported. To meet our attendees needs, we provide dedicated water stations across the area. For drinking water, we encourage our guests to bring an empty water bottle with them.

Respecting the land

• At Solstice we are one with nature. The land we occupy for a brief moment is a home for various species of animals, insects and plants. We ask all our visitors, staff and stakeholders to respect the local ecosystem by staying on designated paths where possible, disposing waste responsibly, and respecting the surrounding wildlife.

• Please leave no trace
  It’s very important that we leave no trace behind, meaning no cigarette butts, no glitter, no confetti, no packaging, no other trash, cans or bottles. During the festival, as well as build-up and teardown, we encourage everyone to pick up litter as they go. We offer pocket ashtrays for our visitors and help them to recycle properly with helpful signages on our recycling points.

• Co-creation with universities
  In 2026, Solstice collaborates with two universities to explore how festivals can strengthen visitors' connection to nature. Through this partnership, we aim to gain valuable insights into the role of immersive cultural experiences in fostering environmental awareness, wellbeing, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

Mobility matters

• Traveling to Solstice
  Air travel accounts for the largest share of our event-related emissions. At the same time, we recognize the importance of maintaining an international community. To help balance these priorities, we prioritize shared transport options whenever possible. Our shuttle buses from Helsinki and Oulu reduce the need for individual vehicles, serving nearly 600 attendees and staff. We also encourage our partners, visitors, and employees to choose greener alternatives whenever feasible, with the goal of lowering the overall number of flights and car rides.

• Keeping up with the changes
  As electric vehicles become more widely available, we continuously review and update our transportation strategy. We evaluate which solutions deliver the greatest emission reductions and adapt our communication about travel options and our own ways of travel.

  We are actively seeking new partnerships that help us develop smarter, more sustainable transport and logistics solutions.

Diversity, inclusion, support & care

• We aim to create a diverse and inclusive community within our festival. We commit to ensure equality and foster spaces that allow everybody to feel safe, welcome, and free to be themselves. 

• Programming
  Our booking team is dedicated to curate a diverse programme that represents a broad range of artists featuring both international guests and local legends, as well as many rising talents.

• Solstice employees & volunteers
  We aim to provide a supportive and fair working environment for our employees and volunteers. By providing training, guidance, and support — on and off the site — we try our best to give everyone the best experience we can.

• Care Team & Calming Tent
  We first established Solstice Care Team in 2024. Solstice Care Team aims to ensure that all people at the festival feel as safe and comfortable as possible during the festival; free from harassment of any kind like unwanted touching, catcalling, stalking, weird staring, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, racism or any kind of discrimination. Care Team operatse independently from security and authorities, and support the festival-goers without judgment, always.
  
  Solstice Care Team operates both on festival grounds and at After Hours, wearing colourful vests, ready to support our visitors with a calm presence and listening ears, carrying a bag full of water, electrolytes and small snacks.
  

  Our Calming tent is a low-stimulation space for rest and reset.

Financial stability

• Solstice is an independent boutique festival. As a small operator, we are concerned about the concentration of power for big corporations in the Finnish music and event industry. Our mission is not to grow Solstice bigger, just to eventually sell it for profit. For every edition to come, we work passionately to maintain Solstice as a fresh and intimate gathering, from friends to friends.

• We aim to keep full independency where Solstice works together with the partner network and not for them. We wish to thrive forward shaped by a long-term plan and intention, not trends and to create meaningful and long-term partnerships as well as ways of working to keep our business economically sustainable, enable fair wage conditions and create new jobs for the creative industry.